Adjustable book stub holder



Aug. 23, 193 8. s. P. JOHNSON ,7

I ADJUSTABLE BOOK STUB HOLDER Filed June a, 1936 ,I I5 I 4 I 1:

FIG./

Patented Aug. 23, 1938 UNITED STATES FATEN'T OFFlCE 1 Claim.

The object of this invention is to provide means of special construction to be attached to the front cover of a check book, for holding part of the stubs of a check book in one position and the other part of said stubs in another position and opposite to the first named position.

A further object is to provide a stub hold-er that will be adjustable to various sizes of check books and stubs so that the effort or pressure of the holder can be varied and centered on the stubs in accordance with variations in the size of the book or stubs or the various positioning of the stubs.

Another object is to simplify the number of parts and their adjustment with relation to each other, so that the pressure for holding the stubs can be more conveniently adjusted and the holder changed from one stub to another when checking over the stubs of check books for posting and reference of users and saving time in so doing.

A further object is the utility of the device to serve other useful purposes such as an ink ruler and measuring rule that will not lie flat on the paper due to pressed out offsets in the metal at each end of the holder bar and to provide in a holder bar offsets that will prevent tearing of the paper stubs as the bar is rotated, thereby giving a smooth action without interference with the stubs.

It has heretofore been suggested to use clamping devices for holding check book stubs but these are more expensive to manufacture, and not convenient to operate when turning the stubs, 215 or rotating the holder bar. It is therefore the primary object of this invention to overcome these defects while at the same time providing other novel features, properties and a relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claim.

For a better understanding of the nature and object of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan View showing a check 50 book in open position with the stub holder in one position and holding stubs against the front cover.

Figure 2 is a top plan view showing the stub holder extended and holding stubs on each side 55 of the binding edge of the book.

Figure 3 is a View in section showing details of the stub engaging member.

In Figure 1, a check book of ordinary type is illustrated: the front cover l is the element to which the holder will be applied, one or more 5 of the sheets or check stubs 3 appearing to the right and including the blank checks 4%.

The holder applied to the front cover l includes a back plate 5 represented as square in shape and adapted to form an engaging member 10 for the pivot screw member 5 which passes thru the front cover of check book i as shown and which may be made of metal, hard rubber or other rigid material with a hole in the center thru which the female half of pivot screw i3 15 freely passes. The back plate 5 may be of any shape, the object being to prevent any undue strain on the check book cover from the tension or working of the pivot screw ii. When the device is in place, rounded outside edges on pivot screw member 8 prevent the possibility of the pivot screw member 5 or plate scratching the surface on which the book rests. The element 6 passes thru a hole punched in front cover i of the book and also the stub engaging member 8 with a sliding fit and is held in position by the male pivot screw member 1. Thus the stub engaging member 8 is held against the inside cover 5 of the check book and the pivot screw member 6 is located about 2 inches from the stubs approximately the center of cover I.

The stub engaging member 8 is adapted to slide laterally as shown in Figures 1 and 2 by means of a slot 9 thru which the female pivot screw (i passes and the stub engaging member 8 is held in position by the head or male element "l. The slot t in element 8 is long enough to enable the stub engaging member 8 to be extended to hold stubs 2 and El down as illustrated in Figure 2; the purpose being also to hold the check book open flat with relation of one cover to the other of the said book. The element 8 is made of spring steel so that a tension is exerted on the pivot screw '5 and the said screw acts as one means to give the desired tension. The element 8 is provided with punched offsets it at each end having smooth surfaces to contact the front cover I or the stubs 2 or 3. It will be understood this element 8 can be rotated around the pivot screw 6 and also be extended back and forth by means of the slot 9 and also lifted in a direction above the stubs to accommodate the turning of the stubs and when in position as shown in Fig. 1 will act as a marker for any position in the book when the same is closed and the element 8 is in such nonextended position as shown.

t will be understood that element 8 can be easily removed by unscrewing pivot screw '5 from element 6 and due to the offsets l0 holding the element 8 above the paper, it can be used as an ink ruler or the same may be marked or used as a measuring rule. Further in particular the said element 8 can be used as an ink ruler in its normal position for ruling say in red ink on the back of check stubs 2 or 3 or the face of the same stubs. The left hand end of element 8 can be used as a clip to hold memorandum papers under the offset I0.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

In combination with a check book having check stubs and front and back covers therefor, of a holder for the stubs thereof, said holder comprising a plate in engagement with the outside of the front cover of said book, pivot means extending through said plate and through said front cover, a stub engaging member pivotally attached to said pivot means, said stub engaging member having a slot therein extending longitudinally thereof providing for lateral adjustment with respect to said pivot means, and said stub engaging member having offsets formed at the ends thereof for engagement with said stubs and said book cover.

STEWART P. JOHNSON. 

